Photo below shows members of Kamungi Conservancy, located on TENP, Triangle northern boundary, enjoying clean water for the first time on tap. Tsavo Trust helped set up Kamungi Conservancy in 2014 and continues to play the pivotal stewardship role in its future development. Here, through donor funds raised by Tsavo Trust, a borehole, solar pump & panels, 2.5-kilometer pipeline and more are now in place. As a result of this project, already illegal activities such as bushmeat poaching and charcoaling have ceased to be a common threat along this section of TE National Park.

Big Tusker Project - aerial and ground teams:

Tsavo Trust’s Big Tusker Project (BTP) recorded the following details in the BTP database:

Total of 9 different individual Tusker’s were observed from ground and air coverage.

Total of 9 different individual Tusker’s were observed from ground and air coverage.

4 bull Super Tuskers – 10 different sightings.

2 Emerging bull Tuskers – 2 sightings.

3 iconic cow Tuskers – 12 sightings.

Total sightings – 24

Weather conditions: Very dry and strong winds.

- Elephant mortality: Number of carcasses found remain low, with only 1 poached elephant located (snared), the other 2 were natural deaths.

- Rhino security: 8 rhino specific aerial recces took place with KWS / TT aircraft in TWNP and TENP. TT - Tembo 3 team continued in support to KWS in ground operations in the TW IPZ. Strong and valuable 3-way partnership between KWS / ZSL & TT continues with specific focus on rhino protection in TWNP.

Table 1: Shows “Tusker” code, number of times observed during month and brief remarks.

Tusker Code

No. TimesSeen / Month

Remarks

BULLS

LU1

5

In good health but requents an unsafe area!

IL1

3

In worrying and unsafe location!

BA1

1

In worrying and unsafe remote location!

WS1

1

In a worrying and unsafe location outside Park!

MA1

1

Normal location

DR1

1

Still outside of Park!

COWS

F_VPL

3

Looking very old and thin, always alone now!

F_MU1

8

Normal area. Looking very old and thin. Always seen with her s/adult calf

F_XT

1

Back to normal location and in good health

Total

6 bulls, 3 cows: 24 different sighings

Close working relationship between KWS and Tsavo Trust (aerial and ground units combined) is without doubt adding to elephant security and safety of the big Tuskers and other elephants within the TCA through meaningful collaboration alongside KWS Security and Research and Monitoring Departments.

Photo shows one of Tsavo’s iconic cow Tuskers coded as F_MU1 on 22nd July 2017, TENP, along with her calf.Photo shows one of Tsavo’s iconic cow Tuskers coded as F_MU1 on 22nd July 2017, TENP, along with her calf.Tsavo Trust has known F_MU1 well for 4 years now. She must be at least 50 plus years of age now and in her twilight years.What a story she could tell?

Areas Covered: Table 2: Shows the main areas covered within the TCA for this month:

The locations mentioned above is only an indicator of flight paths taken, many other areas in between are also covered and in so doing providing “eyes in the skies” over Tsavo and directional guidance to ground units.

All flight paths are logged and recorded with all relevant real time observations relayed to KWS on a daily basis for their records as well as necessary rapid reaction.

Map below shows flight paths for July 2017 where 54 hours were flown in support to KWS for anti-poaching, wildlife monitoring and aerial census operations covering 3,879 miles over the Tsavo’s.

Field Mobile Units:

All Tsavo Trust mobile field units work alongside in support of KWS on a daily basis. Tembo 1 and 3 teams are anti-poaching focused whilst Tembo 2 team is monitoring and research dedicated.

Photo taken by Tembo 2 monitoring team on 27th July 2017 of an injured elephant with an arrow head in his lower right foot. This elephant was close to the southern boundary of TENP and it is likely the elephant came from crops outside of the Park. KWS Vet Unit alerted and the arrow head removed.

Kamungi Water Project - bore hole, solar pump equipment and a 2.5-kilometer delivery pipe line to Ngiluni village has been put in place. Testing has also been done and the residents of Ngiluni have clean water on tap for the first time. This is a “game changer” for this community as will assist KWS and Tsavo Trust in combating the Illegal Wildlife Trade in this area.Kamungi Water Project - bore hole, solar pump equipment and a 2.5-kilometer delivery pipe line to Ngiluni village has been put in place. Testing has also been done and the residents of Ngiluni have clean water on tap for the first time. This is a “game changer” for this community as will assist KWS and Tsavo Trust in combating the Illegal Wildlife Trade in this area.

Human Elephant Conflict (HEC) – A fourth elephant / bee fence has been set up under the Elephant & Bees Project (pioneered by Lucy King and Save The Elephants). There are now 60 bee hives within Kamungi Conservancy and we eagerly await the first harvest early next year.

HWC – Crocodile Attack – 15-year-old Betty Wambua (previously reported on) is still in the recovery process. Incidentally one of the daily medical applications to this severe crocodile wound is honey, applied daily and this remedy is working well.

Animal Welfare Program: LEOPARD RELEASE PROGRAM:

Dotty the female leopard is now 15 months old and continues to thrive in her home in TENP. Recently she spent 6 nights out and returned in good health and a full belly, showing she had fended for herself well. Her days of going fully wild are fast approaching as she reaches full adulthood. A GPS satellite collar has been purchased and will be deployed next month.

Tsavo Trust has recently taken on a second orphaned female leopard for release into Tsavo, from KWS, called “Sophie”. The lengthy process of rehabilitation has started well.

Photo shows Dotty, in top health, observing her territory in TENP, Triangle area on 5th July 2017.

She is spending longer and longer away from her release boma. In July, she spent 6 nights out in one spell.

In preparation for the deployment of Tembo 4 research and monitoring team to TWNP to support KWS in varying field activities, Tsavo Trust implemented the renovation of the Kamboyo Airstrip housing facility where Tembo 4 will be accommodated.

Photo shows the Kamboyo airstrip building before renovation on 1st June 2017

Photo shows Kamboyo airstrip building after renovation on 20th July 2017

UNUSUAL PHOTO OF THE MONTH:

This unusual aerial photo, taken by Tsavo Trust’s Josh Outram, shows an upside-down elephant skull, with ivory still intact, partially submerged in the Galana River, TENP on 11th July 2017.This unusual aerial photo, taken by Tsavo Trust’s Josh Outram, shows an upside-down elephant skull, with ivory still intact, partially submerged in the Galana River, TENP on 11th July 2017.

As the river has receded it has now exposed the skull and ivory in this uncommon view.Both tusks were later recovered.

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